Reviews by zhanson88:

Appearance: Pours out a clear, deep auburn color. Just a trace of khaki head forms, which has minimal retention and lacing. Right after it poured I was a bit concerned about the carbonation level, but it seems to be fine, albeit minimal, after a bit of study.

Smell: Smells of caramel and dark fruits, with barrel flavors rounding everything out. Definite wood and whiskey notes still apparent after several years of aging. Light hints of oxidation as well, but minimal and not as bad as I had feared after reading some recent reviews of the '09 vintage.

Taste: Lots of dark fruit flavors with lighter caramel notes as well. Mid palate and into the finish, the barrel influence kicks in. Whiskey notes still remain pretty dominant. Also a bit of vanilla along with oak tannins. Finish is very warming. Light oxidation present, but not too noticeable.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Medium-full mouthfeel with low carbonation. Pretty slick. Overall this was a good old ale, and I was very glad to get the chance to trade for it and try it. Held up pretty well with age. Definitely a dessert-type beer, as it does have a good amount of sweetness. It probably drinks harder than the ABV would suggest. Definite sipper. (1,238 characters)

More User Reviews:

2011 750 ml bottle at Euclid Hall in Denver, poured 6-29-14. Pours dark brownish amber, slightly murky, with a small off white to khaki head. The head recedes quickly and there is just a rim around the edges by the time I take a sip. Aroma is big bourbon notes, heavy caramel malts, light molasses, vanilla, oak, and more bourbon. Flavor follows the aroma rather closely with a nice caramel molasses feel, supported by bourbon in the background. Light vanilla notes are there, but not as strong as when fresh I would guess. Body is thinner than expected--especially after loving regular hibernation so much--but maybe a slight nitpick. Still some decent carbonation in this one. Definitely a beer to seek out if you can find it. Not sure it was worth the $54 price tag at the restaurant, but hey, you only live once. (816 characters)

750 ml bottle. Pours a murky brown with almost no head (a vigorous pour produced a little frothiness that quickly went to a thin collar).

The aroma is chocolate and bourbon with dark fruit and molasses. Smells a bit like a decadent rum cake / fruitcake. There is a touch of fusel alcohol. I can smell the original Hibernation but it's been bourbonized.

The flavor is surprisingly subdued. There's some chocolatey bourbon and dark fruits leading to a bitter alcohol finish. As it warms, a bit more flavor comes out - but it still tastes like watered down Hibernation with a splash of whiskey. The mouthfeel is full with very little carbonation and is a bit watery.

Overall, this is not overdone with the alcohol like the bourbon yeti was. Both barrel versions I've had have been very lightly carbonated. I'm surprised by how subdued the flavors were for me, given how complex original Hibernation is. It's interesting to try, but regular Hibernation is better, and this is not worth $25 a bottle. (998 characters)

Tried this beer at Donnelly's in Fairport, New York. Exceptional taste and surprisingly high in ABV, despite it not tasting like it should be. I would definitely recommend this beer to those looking for a very flavorful beer that's not incredibly heavy. (253 characters)

Deep dark brown in color with just the faintest trace of a fingernail of khaki head around the rim. A touch of light seeps through when held up to light. Light Brussels lacing. I smell plenty of sweet whiskey along with vanilla and caramel. The taste is packed with sweet whiskey and dark malt. The mouth is bone dry and sticky. There's a warming from the alcohol in the fade with a gentle burn. 2014 vintage. (416 characters)

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a chalice. 2014 Vintage with a bottled on date of January 05, 2015.

Appearance: Pours dark brown with hints of amber. About one finger of beige head that quickly fades into a thin patchy layer.

Smell: A rich, toasty, and nicely boozy malt forward aroma with good hints of bourbon, caramel, and chocolate. Good barrel presence with some upfront hints of bourbon whiskey, vanilla, oak, and wood. Toasted barley malt with bready hints of biscuit, toast, chocolate, caramel, toffee, and yeast. Sweet hints of brown sugar. A very good toasty aroma.

Taste: Like the smell, a nicely toasty, as well as a little hint of leather. Dark fruit hints of fig, raisin, and dates. Also some earthy hop hints rich, and boozy malt driven taste with good notes of whiskey, chocolate, and caramel. Good barrel taste with notes of bourbon whiskey, sweet vanilla, oak, and wood. Toasted barley malt with good bready notes of biscuit, toasted bread, chocolate, toffee, caramel, nuts, and yeast. Sweet taste of brown sugar. Solid dark fruit esters with undertones of fig, dates, and raisin. Also some notes of leather and tobacco as well as some earthy hop bitterness. A really nice taste.

750ml foil-wrapped and capped bottle. Thanks to doktorzee for the Mile High hookup...er, that sounds a little weird, eh? 2011 edition, enjoyed while spending my first Father's Day at the homestead with my Dad, looking out over the rolling Southern Alberta prairie.

This beer pours an opaque, orangish-brown dirty dishwater colour, with one skinny finger of thin, bubbly beige head, which leaves little beyond some sparse islet lace around the glass as it weakly checks out.

The carbonation is fairly understated, just a wee fuzziness throughout, the body medium-heavy in weight, and generally smooth, in a bridled boozy sort of manner. It finishes rather sweet, the caramel, vanilla, wood, fruit, and sublimated alcohol all present and glad-handing each other.

A rather pleasant barrel-treated old ale, the big selling points of each side hefty, but agreeably integrated. This took a long time to put back, familial interactions and all that, so rendering the big ABV a surprisingly moot point. If you think your typical old ale could use a bit more booze and grainy wood, then this is the beer for you. (1,542 characters)

MF: Hefty & sticky with minimal carbonation, carbonation picks up a bit as this warms

Great drinkability, a luxury that alas may not stack up to many other Old ales, barrel aged or not; if you are seeking value for your dollar. Thrilled to have tried this, but was expecting more to be honest (728 characters)